Indirect Indications of the Ctird-Bit. 79 



In teaching the indirect indications of the 

 curb-bit, I have found the following manner of 

 holding the reins very efficient: the curb-reins 

 held in the left hand divided by the little finger, 

 the loose ends of the reins carried through the 

 hand, and held fast by the thumb against the fore- 

 finger ; the hand held high or low as the horse 

 requires the head to be elevated or lowered, 

 the thumbs pointing towards the horse's ears. 

 The right hand, carried above the left, should 

 hold the snaffle-reins, and when it is necessary to 

 employ the latter, the left hand will release the 

 tension upon the curb-reins, the tension upon the 

 curb-reins being resumed w^ien the snaffle ceases 

 to act ; that is, there should not be a tension 

 upon both sets of reins at the same time. 



If the exercises described in the preceding 

 chapters have been carefully carried out, the rider 

 should experience no difficulty in bringing the 

 horse to the various forms of collection with the 

 curb-reins, particularly if he bears in mind that 

 the impulses from action help the aids in uniting 

 the extremities of the horse. 



To turn the horse to the right, the right snaffle- 

 rein, supported and its effects measured by the 



